So busy

Hello all! Did you miss me?

Well I missed you! I hope all is going well at your end. At our end we are just flat out busy. That funny time of the year (Christmas) has snuck up on me! Since my last post, which was well, a rant. Life in general has accelerated. We signed the contract for our house build last week. With Christmas, just around the corner nothing is expected to happen until the new year. This is fine with us, we are just happy to go into Christmas knowing all the design is 99% completed. I say 99% because we still need to decide on the flooring and I might have to change some windows...... anyway I digress.

Here's an update

Toilet Learning

We have taken a giant leap forward and tiny steps backwards.

1. Both A and G are waking in the morning dry. Yes, that's right both! A has been for months now, but G has just cottoned on to this toilet learning business. In the last two weeks she has been waking up with a dry nappy and using the potty for her first wee of the day. In the past it has been pretty hit and miss. Some days she goes other days there is no need, because she has a full nappy.
2. I say potty time and they both go to the potty. 80% of the time they use the potty.
3. Last week both girls took themselves (without been prompted) to the potty and used it! It was a moment of much excitement (for me.)
4. They now insist on carrying the potty insert to the toilet to tip into the toilet. Some days they make it all the way without any mishaps. Other days....... we have to clean up (sigh), but they have to help.

Toilet learning is easier as we are into our warmest part of the year. So the best time for us to really focus on toilet learning. It also helps that they spend most of the day in training pants or nude. I am currently showing them how to pull up and down the training pants.

Purposeful Work

With the warm weather there is more outside time in the afternoon. Lots of water play and purposeful work clean windows, toys, cube chairs and outside play gym. The cleaning of the cube chairs is an activity we do every few days. Today they learnt how to use the trigger gun on the hose, much to their delight. Their cube chairs were hosed down again, and again, and again, and again.

Language

Oh wow! Their vocabulary has exploded, and so has their ability to understand. Conversely, there are a lot more tantrums, they become frustrated when they want something and can't express what it is they want. We are working on other ways they can show me, like flash cards and baby sign.

A and G have also started chatting to each other. They seem to know exactly what their sibling is say. Unfortunately I do not understand their chatter.

We are going on holiday!

Hooray!! Next week we are departing on a three week driving holiday. We are driving from Brisbane to Melbourne (and back). To visit my family. We are taking our time it is a long drive. It's not a drive for the faint hearted, especially with children. I spent the last few weeks preparing for our trip. I've purchased a number of activities for in the car. I hope to share these with you next week before I go. So out of interest, have you taken a long care trip with your wee ones? What worked for you? What in car activities did you have/do? My wee ones are only 17 months, so some activity just don't work..... such as I spy and counting cars.  If you have any suggestions I would love to read them!

Take care.